The information to be collected will be used by FRA to monitor regulatory compliance with 49 CFR 213. The information collected under section 213.234 will be used by FRA to ensure that automated track inspections of track constructed with concrete crossties are carried out as specified in this section to supplement visual inspections and to ensure that qualified rail personnel take appropriate remedial action, where necessary.
This collection of information is required by Section 403(d) of the Rail Safety Improvement Act (RSIA) of 2008. The rule and its associated information collection fulfill the Congressional mandate, and serve to enhance rail safety.
The burden for this collection of information has increased by 30 hours. The change in burden is due to one program change. Specifically, under § 213.234(e)1), railroads must provide or make available exception reports to all persons designated as fully qualified under § 213.7 and whose territories are subject to the requirements of § 213.234. FRA estimates that 150 electronic exception reports will be completed under this new requirement and that it will take a total of 30 hours to complete them. There was also a second program change under § 213.234(e)4), but this change did not change the estimated time to complete each exception report and, therefore, had no impact on the burden.
The current OMB inventory exhibits a total of 17,647 hours, while the present submission requests a total of 17,677 hours. Hence, there is an increase in burden of 30 hours.
As noted in the answer to question number 13, there is a small cost to respondents concerning the estimated 150 exception report copies that will be made to fulfill the requirement under § 213.234(e)(1). This cost amounts to $45.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.